As we progress through Training Camp, I will attempt to summarize the interesting points from the various news sources out there.  For more detailed information, I will always include links to the full stories at the bottom of these entries.

Nick Kaczur is practicing.  As you may recall, he appeared on the PUP at the beginning of TC.  OL was a thin position this summer with injuries, so it's encouraging to see some of the guys coming back.  You may recall, Nick was involved in the illegal use of Oxycontin and subsequently complied with a sting of the dealer.  Kaczur has plea bargained down to a speeding charge and must comply with any drug treatment programs the Patriots decide are necessary.  Think what you will - star athletes getting star treatment.  He's back.  We need him.

5 out of 6 TC practices have been full pads.  There's no easing into preparation for the gang; Belichick is making them earn every break they get and is pushing them from the start.  It's a fine line, though.  Coaches worry about wearing out their players or the injuries associated with full pad practices vs. getting them ready for the long hall of an NFL season.  That's why Belichick's the coach; I think he's got it down by now.

WR Robert Ortiz was released to make room for FA RB LaMont Jordan.  In my story Training Camp Shootout: Wide Reciever, I predicted this would happen given his limited roles with previous teams and mostly NFL Europa experience.  I'm a bit confused by the move to pickup LaMont given we already have 5 running backs (Morris, Faulk, Maroney, Evans, Green-Ellis) and 4 are vets.  It could indicate Belichick intends to strengthen the running game significantly and feels the need to have more RBs to rotate in and out.  At 5-10 230 lbs, LaMont is a bull, so he could also see action as a blocking back or in third down situations, similar to a Kevin Faulk role.

Here's an interesting tidbit from Reiss's blog regarding filling gaps by the defense:

This practice was especially physical for the front seven of the defense, specifically in how gaps are filled in the running game. Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour comprised the 3-man line, with Adalius Thomas and Pierre Woods at outside linebacker and Tedy Bruschi and Tank Williams at inside linebacker.

Hmm... I thought Tank was a safety.  I guess you never know with BB.  At 6-2 223 lbs, he's big, but not what I'd call a classic ILB size-wise.  Maybe it's an attempt to teach Tank all facets of the Patriots' defense.  Maybe Tank is a multi-faceted player and will be used all over the field.  I'm keeping an eye on this guy.  I was happy when they brought him on board and I'm liking the move more and more.

And, one final thought related to running backs: our OL was dominated in the SB, where it mattered most.  5 sacks and 9 hits on Brady had a significant impact on the outcome of that game.  The Giants correctly assumed we'd try an aerial assault and loaded up on pass rushers.  This year, however, I believe Belichick plans to run the ball down opponent's throats.  As soon as he sees defensive run stoppers replaced with pass rushers, the RB freight train will begin.  Yet another weapon in the arsenal - try to defend the run?  Loft it to Moss, Welker, or Gaffney.  Try to defend the pass - Morris, Faulk, Maroney, Jordan, Evans.  Make defenses worry about too many things and they're spread to thin.

Whoo hoo!!  Training camp starts today and...it's raining. :-(  This means the boys hold practice inside at the Dana-Farber Field House, closed to the public.  This is a perfect example of why you should check patriots.com before making the trek to Foxboro.  The first bit of news is players on the PUP or Physically Unable to Play list:

DL Jarvis Green
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
CB Ellis Hobbs
OL Nick Kaczur
G Stephen Neal
OT Oliver Ross
LB Bo Ruud
LB Mike Vrabel
WR Wes Welker
C Ryan Wendell
DL Mike Wright

Before you freak, like I did (Wes/Vrabel/Hobbs?!?!?), here's an explanation from Mike Reiss about the difference between the active/PUP list during training camp and reserve/PUP list during regular season:

These players can return to practice at any time in training camp, once they are cleared to practice because they are on the active/PUP list. The active/PUP list is different from the reserve/PUP list during the season. When players are on the reserve/PUP list during the season, they miss at least the first six weeks.

Get back into practice, guys.  Make me feel better.

Laurence Maroney gets all the attention. And why not? He's the "starter". Even though, in my humble opinion, starter is a term that has lost some, if not most, of its luster with many postions.  It's more about snaps.  How many has a player taken.  The Patriots, like many smart teams, invest in players who fit the system vs. 1 or 2 stars, constantly relied on and playing a ridiculous number of snaps.  Laurence and Sammy may not have the Top 5 numbers of some of the other guys, but they're gonna be dangerous this year; wait and see.

When Maroney was out of commission for weeks 4-6, Sammy Morris was averaging 4.6 yards a carry.  A season ending injury put him out and Laurence stepped in to put up 4.9 yards per carry in the last 6 games of the season.  That was a, "Where the heck's he been?" moment.  Many other classless dudes would have complained bitterly if they were essentially an afterthought for most of the season.  Not Maroney, the team player.  He worked hard, stayed healthy and stayed ready.  How could you not rely so heavily on the passing attack?  When the aerial assault started to faulter a bit, there he was - ready to rock & roll.

Laurence Maroney - Mr. Team Player.  Like I outlined above, 4.9 yards in the last 6 games.  Called on to provide an alternate set of weapons when Brady and the WR gang came up against film, Laurence stepped in to put up 100 yarders in 4 out of 6 of the last games.  Which, just so happens, makes him the league leader in postseason rushing.  Kiss my what? ;-)

Sammy Morris - Considered the "second back", Morris put up a respectable 4.6 yards per carry when he stepped in for an injured Maroney.  I like Sammy.  He seems to commit more than Laurence, for better or for worse.  He doesn't seem to bounce off of the line as much, preferring to blast through.  He may get nailed in the process, but at least he's committed.

Kevin Faulk - Averaging a decent 4.3 yards per carry, this doesn't tell the whole story.  Oh, did I mention he can catch like a mofo?  With 8.1 yards per reception for 2007 and a career 8.7, he's a serious threat when Brady decides to use him for the option.  Or, better yet, when the Patriots need some more meat in the slot than Wes can provide, Kevin is the dude.  A serious 3rd down back, he's a major secret weapon.  It boggles my mind defenses forget about him.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis - A UFA, BenJarvus is an investment in youth.  Granted, Laurence is in his early 20's with tons of gas left, it still never hurts to have more youth.  In Marima's most excellent profile on BenJarvus, we see that he's had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons with a 94 yard per game average.  Not too shabby, BenJarvus.  If he can step it up to an NFL level, this will be an awesome running attack with a lot of depth.